Fabric folding machine



Nov. 5, 1963 J. R. ZIMMERMAN FABRIC FOLDING MACHINE Filed June '7, 19614 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN E. Z\MME2MAN BY @248 aw Fatal.

ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1963 J. R- ZIMMERMAN FABRIC FOLDING MACHINE 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 7, 1961 INVENTOR Joa-m 2. ZMMEIZMAN A'ITORNE'YNov. 5, 1963 J. R. ZIMMERMAN 3,109,643

FABRIC FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.Jouu 2.21MMEIZMAN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,109,643 FARE-RECFDLDENG MAQCHENE John R. Zimmerman, Wayne Sh, @rwlgsburg, Pa. Filed June7, will, Ser. No. 115,425 11 Qlaims. (til. 276-7h) This inventionrelates in general to new and useful improvements in fabric foldingmachines, and more particularly to a fabric folding machine which willfold continuous strips of fabric back and forth and at the same timefrom side to side whereby a continuous strip of fabric may be evenlydeposited into a suitable container.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a fabric foldingmachine which is of a relatively simple construction and at the sametime of a mechanical design suitable for continuous operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel combined drive andguide means for a continuous strip of fabric, the combined drive andguide means including a continuously rotating roller which is driven andis reciprocated back and forth, and a guide member mounted above theroller and reciprocated back and forth axially of the roller with therebeing associated with the guide a small roller which clamps the fabricto the large roller and which slides relative to the large rollerwhereby there is a continuous driving of the fabric even though it ismoved back and forth along the main roller.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel fabric foldingmachine which includes two carriages mounted for reciprocation at rightangles to eachother, with one of the carriages being carried by theother and the two carriages being driven from a common drive source.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel fabric foldingmachine which includes a suitable frame structure having a firstcarriage reciprocated thereon, and a second carriage carried by thefirst carriage reciprocated thereon transversely of the movement of thefirst carriage, and the first carriage carrying a drive roller which iscontinuously driven, all of the drives for the carriages and the driveroller being driven from a single power source.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel drive for acontinuously rotating drive roller which is carried by a reciprocatingcarriage, the drive roller being driven from a fixed main drive shaftand the drive between the drive roller and the main drive shaftincluding a pair of links pivotally connected to the main drive shaftand a shaft of the drive roller with the links also being pivotallyconnected together by a pivot shaft, and there being mounted on the maindrive shaft, the pivot shaft and the drive roller shaft sprockets whichare con: nected together by drive chains with the links poting as thedrive roller reciproc-ates back and forth relative to the main driveshaft during the reciprocation of the carriage supporting the driveroller.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel drive for areciprocating carriage, the drive including an endless chain havingattached thereto a connecting link, and the connecting link sing furtherattached to the carriage whereby as the chain continuously moves, thecarriage is advanced and retracted.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel fabricfolding machine which will simultaneously fold a plurality of strips offabric into suitable containers, the machine being self-contained andbeing provided with suitable supports for containers for the fabri andthe operation of the machine being automatic.

With the above and other objects in View that will hereina ter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a plm view of the fabric folding machine with portionsbroken away and shown in section in order to clearly illustrate thevarious drive assemblies of the machine.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic perspective view with portions broken away andshows the specific details of the drives of the fabric folding machine.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE1 and shows the specific details of the machine.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken alongthe line 4-4 of FlGURE 3, and shows the specific details of the drivefor a longitudinally reciprocating carriage and the manner in which thecarriage is supported.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken alongthe line 5-5 of FIGURE 3, and shows the specific details of the drivefor a transversely reciprocating carriage.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated the fabric folding machine, which is the subject of thisinvention, the fabric folding machine being generally referred to by thenumeral it The fabric folding machine 19 includes two main upper framemembers 11 and 12 disposed at opposite sides of the machine it andextending longitudinally thereof. As is best illustrated in FIGURE 3,the frame members 11 and 12 are supported at opposite ends of upperlongitudinal frame members 13, 14 which, in turn, are supported bystandards 15, 16. The lower ends of the standards 15 are connectedtogether by a transverse frame member 17 whereas the lower ends of thestandards 16 are connected together by a transverse frame member 18.

The frame ill includes a container support assembly, generally referredto by the numeral 19. The container support assembly 19 includes atransverse frame member it? which extends between the standards 15'intermediate the ends thereof. A pair'of longitudinally extending framemembers 21 are connected to the transverse frame member 29 inwardly ofthe sides of the frame 10. The rear ends of the frame members 21 aresupported by short standards 22 which have their lower ends connected tothe transverse frame member 18. An intermediate transverse strap 23extends between the longitudinal frame members 21. A plurality oflongitudinally extending container supports 24 extend from thetransverse frame member 26 over the transverse strap 23 and terminate inupstanding legs 25. The upstanding legs 25 are connected together by atransverse strap 26 which, in turn, has longitudinally extending straps27 connected to the opposite ends thereof. The straps 27, as is bestshown in FIGURE 1, have olfset end portions 28 which are connected torespective ones of the standards 15. The transverse strap 26 alsoincludes generally U'shaped longitudinally extending dividers 2%.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 4, wherein there is shown theconstruction of the longitudinal frame member 11. It is to be understoodthat the construction of the longitudinal frame member 12 will beidentical to that of the frame member 11. The frame member 11 isgenerally of a box-shaped configuration and includes an upstanding outerside wall 30 and a bottom wall 31 disposed in angular relation. The sidewall fill has an upper flange 32 connected thereto and disposed inoverlying relation to the bottom wall 31. The flange 32 is not as wideas the bottom wall 31. An upstanding flange 33 is connected to the edgeof the bottom wall 31 remote from the side wall 30 and is parallel tothe side wall 30. The height of the flange 33 is much less than theheight of the side wall 3% An inwardly directed flange 34 is connectedto the upper edge of the flange 33 and is disthrough the respective sidewall 30.

3 posed in overlying parallel relation to the bottom wall 31. The flange34 is relatively narrow.

A first carriage, generally referred to by the numeral 35, is carried bythe frame members 11, 12 for reciprocation longitudinally of the frame18. The carriage 35 is formed of a pair of side plates 36, 37 which areprimarily connected together by an upright channel member 38 which isconnected edges thereof. The channel member 38, as is best shown inFIGURE 3, has a lower flange 39 which extends along the lower edges ofthe side plates 36, 37. The channel member 38 also includes an uprightweb 40 which is disposed generally coextensive with the rear edges ofthe side plates 36, 3'7 and extends thereabove. The channel member 38also includes an upper flange 41 which is disposed above the upper edgesof the side plates 36, 37.

Each of the side plates 36, 37 is provided with a stub axle 42 whichcarries a wheel 43, the wheel being disposed outwardly of its respectiveside plate and being spaced relative thereto by means of a spacer 44carried by the stub axle 42. Each of the longitudinal frame members 11,12 is provided with a rail 45 which is suitably secured on the uppersurface of a respective one of the flanges 34 of the two longitudinalframe members 11, 12. In this manner, the first carriage 35 is guidedfor longitudinal reciprocation.

Each of the side plates 36, 37 is provided with a suitable bearing 46.The beari gs 46 are aligned, and a shift 47 extends through the bearings46. As is best shown in FIGURE 1, a drive roller 48 is carried by amajor portion of the drive shaft 47 between the side plates 36, 37.

In order to effect the reciprocation of the carriage 35 longitudinallyof the frame 10, there are provided first carriage drive means. Thefirst carriage drive means includes longitudinally spaced bearings 49,50 carried by the side Wall 30 of each of the frame members 11, 12. Astub shaft 51 is carried by the bearing 49 and extends shaft 52 iscarried by each bearing 50, but extends only iinwardly of the respectiveside wall 30.

Theshaft 51 carries sprockets 53 and 54 disposed in side-by-siderelation. The shaft 52 carries a sprocket 55 which is aligned with thesprocket 54. A drive chain 56 is entrained over the sprockets 54, 55.

A fitting 57 is secured to one of the links of the drive chain 56. Thefitting 57 includes a shaft 58 on which there is pivotally mounted oneend of a connecting link 59. The opposite end of the connecting link 59is pivotally mounted on an associated end of the drive shaft 47. At thistime, it is pointed out that each of the longitudinal frame members 11,12 has the aforedescribed drive means for reciprocating the firstcarriage '35, including links 59 disposed at and connected to oppositeends of the shaft 47. It will be apparent from FIGURES 2 and 3 that asthe chains 56 move, the links 59 will first push the first carriage 35forwardly-and then pull the first carriage 35 rearwardly.

A pair of bearings 60 are carried by the longitudinal frame members 21in transverse alignment. A main drive shaft 61 is suitably journaled inthe bearings 60 and extends therethrough. A main drive sprocket 62 iscarried by an intermediate portion of the main drive shaft 61 and isdriven by a chain 63 which, in turn, is driven by a suitable powersource (not shown). As is best shown in FIGURE 2, the main drive shaft61 is provided at opposite ends thereof with sprockets 62. Thesesprockets 62 are vertically aligned with the sprockets 53 carried by thestub shafts 51. A drive chain 63 is entrained over each pair of thesprockets 53, 62 to drivingly connect the stub shafts 51 to the maindrive shaft 61 for constant rotation.

It is desired that the drive roller 48 be constantly rohated as thefirst carriage, which carries the drive roller 48, reciprocates. 'Inorder that a chain drive may be pro- A similar stub' to the side plates36, 37 at the rear 4 V vided for the drive roller there are providedchain drive means, generally referred to by the numeral 64. The chaindrive means 64 includes a first link 65 having a first end pivotallymounted on the main drive shaft 61. The drive means 64 also includes asecond link 66' having a first end pivotally mounted on the drive shaft47 for the drive roller -48. A pivot shaft 67 connects together thesecond ends of the links 65, 66.

The pivot shaft 67 carries two interconnected sprockets 68, 69. A drivesprocket 7 3 is carried by the main drive shaft 61 in alignment with thesprocket 68 and the sprockets 68 and '78 are connected together by adrive chain 71. A sprocket 72 is secured to the shaft 47 in alignmentwith the sprocket 69, and the sprockets 69' and 72 are connectedtogether by a drive chain 73.

From FIGURE 2, it will be obvious that as the first carriage 35reciprocates longitudinally of the frame of the machine 10, the driveroller 48 and the shaft 47 therefor will reciprocate longitudinally ofthe machine .18 relative to the drive shaft 61. Additional movement willresult in the pivoting of the links 65 and 66 with the pivot shaft 67moving up and down. However, the movement of the links 65 and 66 in noway increases the length of either the drive chain 71 or the drive chain'73, with the result that the movement of the drive roller 48 in no wayeffects the drive connection between the drive roller 48 and the maindrive shaft 61.

A carriage supporting rail 75 extends between the side plates 36, 37rearwardly of the drive roller 48. A

second carriage 76 is carried by the rail 75 for reciprocationtransversely of the machine 16 and for movement with the first carriage35. The second carriage 76 is in the form of an inverted channel memberwhich rests upon the rail 75. The second carriage 76 is driven bysuitable drive means, generally referred to by the numeral 77.

The drive means 77 include a pair of bearing assemblies 78, 79 which arecarried by the web 46 of the channel 38, as is best shown in FIGURE 1. Astub shaft 80 projects forwardly from the bearing assembly 78 whereas asimilar stub shaft 81 projects forwardly from the bearing assembly 79.The shafts 80, 81 carry aligned sprockets 82, 83, respectively, and adrive chain 84 is entrained over the sprockets 82, 83.

As is best illustrated in FIGURE 1, the drive chain 84 has a fitting 85secured to one of the links thereof. The fitting 85 includes a shaft 86on which there is pivotally connected one end of a connecting link 87.The other end of the connecting link 87 is pivotally connected to ashaft 88 which, in turn, is welded or otherwise suitably secured to abnacket 89 which is rigidly secured to the carriage 76. Thus, when thechain 84 moves, the second carriage 76 is caused to reciprocate alongthe rail 75 transversely of the machine 18.

As is best illustrated in FIGURE 2, the connecting link 87, in certainpositions thereof, has a tendency to lift the second carriage 76 off therail 75. In order to prevent this, a strap 96 extends between the sideplates 36, 37 intermediate the endless chain 84 and the second carriage76. The strap 90' carries a guide 91 through which the shaft 88 extends.The guide 91 receives an enlarged roller 92 carried by the shaft 88. Theroller 92 bears either against the guide 91 or against the strap 98 andtherefore eliminates the transmittal of vertical forces to the secondcarriage 76.

A transverse shaft 93 extends between the side plate 36 and a bracket37A carried by the channel member 38 is rotatably journ aled in bearings94, 95 carried by the side plate 36 and the extension 37A. The left endof the shaft 93 is provided with a sprocket 96 which is aligned with asprocket 97 carried by the shaft 47. A drive chain 98 is entrained overthe sprockets 96 and 97 to drive the shaft 93 from the shaft 47. Theshaft 93 carries a worm 99 which is meshed with a worm wheel 106 carriedby the shaft 80. In this manner, the shaft 80 is driven to drive thechain 84.

As is best shown in FIGURE 4, an arched supporting strap litl extendsupwardly from and between the rear ends of the longitudinal framemembers 11 and 12. At spaced intervals along the length of thesupporting strap id-i bars 102 extend upwardly and are secured to thelower portions of generally J-shaped guides 1%. In the machineillustrated, there are three such guides 103, the machine it) beingintended to simultaneously fold three strips of fabric.

A pair of support arms 1&4 are carried by the longitudinal frame members13., 12, and extend upwardly and forwardly, as is best shown in FIGURE3. A shaft 105 extends between and is rotatably journaled in the upperends of the support arms 1%. The shaft 105 carries a fabric feed drum1%. As is best shown in FIGURE 1,

the left hand end of the shaft 1%, as viewing the machine it from thefront, is provided with a sprocket 197. This sprocket is aligned with asprocket 1% on the end of the shaft 51. A drive chain it)? connects thesprocket 1%! to the sprocket 1% for the purpose of driving the shaft 1&5and the feed drum 1% carried thereby.

Three ring type guides 116 are secured to the second carriage 76 inalignment with the J-shaped guides 103. These ring guides 119 aresecureddirectly to a forward edge of the second carriage 75 in any suitablemanner, such as by welding.

A sleeve 1 11 is secured to the front part of each of the guides 11%. Apair of arms 112 are secured to each of the sleeves 111 by means of apivot pin 113, the arms 112 being disposed at opposite ends of thesleeve 111. A roller 114 is carried by the pair of arms 112 on a shaftContinuous strips of fabric 116 are fed to the machine 19 from the rearthereof. The fabric 156, as is best shown in FEGURE 3, passes upwardlyfrom the rear of the machine in over an associated one of the J-Shapedguides 193 continuing upwardly onto and over the feed drum 1%, effectingthe advancement of the fabric 116 through the J-shaped guides 163. Thefabric 116 then passes down through an associated one of the guides 11%and between the drive roller 48 and an associated one of the rollers114. It is to be understood that the roller 114 is either of sufiicientweight to be gravity urged to a proper fabric clamping position or, ifnecessary, the support for the rail 114 could be spring urged. Therollers 4-3 and 11d cooperate to pull the fabric 116 from the feed drum1%. The fabric 116 then loosely falls from between the rolls 48 andiii-t into a suitable container 117 which is illustrated in phantomlines in FIGURE 3.

in the operation of the machine it), as the fabric 116 is being fed, thefirst carriage 35 is reciprocated longitudinally of the machine 1 at thesame rate as the fabric is being fed so that the fabric is laid evenlywithin the container 117. it will be further noted that the stroke ofthe first carriage 35 is substantially the same as the length of thecontainer 117 so that the fabric 116 is laid into the container 11? forsubstantially the full length thereof.

As the first carriage 35 is being reciprocated to lay the fabric 116within the container 117 back and forth of the length of the container117, the second carriage 76 is simultaneously being reciprocatedtransversely of the machine 10. The reciprocation of the second carriage'76 is slower than that of the carriage 35, this being primarilycontrolled by the drive ratio of the worm 99 and the worm wheel 1%. Therate of transverse movement of the carriage is is so related to that ofthe carriage 35 that the carriage '76 moves transversely of the machinelb a distance equal to the width of the fabric 116 as the carriage 35completes a full cycle of reciprocation. In this manner, the fabric 116is properly laid within the container 117 in a folded state so as tocompletely fill the container 117.

The simplicity of the machine is obvious upon reviewing the same. It isconvenient in that a single drive is provided for the two carriages, thedrive roller 48 and the feed drum 166. Thedrives for the two carriagesare extremely simple and are of the generally continuous type with thenature of the drives permitting long strokes and yet requiring a minimumof space as opposed to the normal crank type drive. Numerous otheradvantages of the specific construction of the machine 19 will becomeapparent upon study thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there has een disclosed ahighly desirable and novel machine for accomplishing the desired foldingof fabric. Although only an example embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated andtdescribed, it is to be understood that minormodifications and changes may be made in the invention within the spiritand scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fabric folding machine for folding a continuous strip of fabricback and forth and progressively from side to side in a container, saidmachine comprising a frame, a first carriage, cooperating means on saidframe and first carriage mounting said first carriage for back and forthmovement, a drive roller carried by said first carriage for driving astrip of fabric, a second carriage, cooperating means on said firstcarriage and said second carriage -mounting said second carirage forside to side movement, combined fabric guide and clamping means carriedby said second carriage for movement along said drive roller and inclamping fabric driving cooperation therewith, means for driving saidfirst carriage, means for driving said second carriage as saidfirstcarriage reciprocates, and means for driving said drive roller as saidfirst carriagetreciprocates.

2. The fabric folding machine of claim 1 wherein a main drive shaft iscarried by said frame for rotation only and said driveroller is carriedby a drive roller shaft, and said drive means for said drive rollerincludes a flexing chain drive connecting said drive roller shaft tosaid main drive shaft and driving the same from said main drive shaft.

3. A fabric folding machine for folding a continuous strip of fabricback and forth and progressively from side to side in a container, saidmachine comprising a frame, a first carriage, cooperating means on saidframe and first carriage mounting said first carriage for back and forthmovement, a drive roller carried by said first carriage for driving astrip of fabric, a second carriage, cooperating means on said firstcarriage and said second carriage mounting said second carriage for sideto side movement, combined fabric guide and clamping means carried bysaid second carriage for movement along said drive roller and inclamping fabric driving cooperation therewith, means for driving saidfirst carriage, means for driving said second carriage as said firstcarriage reciprocates, and means for driving said drive roller as saidfirst carriage reciprocates, a main drive shaft carried by said framefor rotation only and said drive roller being carried by a drive rollershaft, and said drive means for said drive roller including a flexingchain drive connecting said drive roller shaft to said main drive shaftand driving the same from said main drive shaft, said chain driveincluding a first link having a first end pivotally mounted on said maindrive shaft, a second link having a first end pivotally mounted on saiddrive roller. shaft, said links having second ends, a pivot shaftconnecting together said link second ends, sprockets on said main driveshaft, said drive roller shaft and said pivot shaft, and drive chainsentrained over said sprockets.

4. The fabric folding machine of claim 1 wherein a main drive shaft iscarried by said frame for rotation only and said drive roller is carriedby a drive roller shaft, and said drive means for said drive rollerincludes a flexing chain drive connecting said drive roller shaft tosaid main drive shaft and driving the same from said main drive shaft,and said drive means for said second carriage being connected to saiddrive roller shaft.

5. A fabric folding machine for folding a continuous strip of fabricback and forth and progressively from side to side in a container, saidmachine comprising a frame,

a first carriage, cooperating means on said frame and first carriagemounting said first carriage for back and forth movement, a drive rollercarried by said first carriage for driving a strip of fabric, a secondcarriage, cooperating means on said first carriage and said secondcarriage mounting said second carriage for side to side movement,combined fabric guide and clamping means carried by said second carriagefor movement along said drive roller and in clamping fabric drivingcooperation therewith, means for driving said first carriage, means fordriving said second carriage as said first carriage reciprocates, andmeans for driving said drive roller as said first carriage reciprocates,said combined fabric guide and drive means including a guide loop forreceiving a strip of fabric, and a roller aligned with said guide loopand being adapted to clamp a strip of fabric against said drive roller.

6. The fabric folding machine of claim 1 wherein said first carriagedrive means includes a continuous drive chain, ,a connecting link havingone end secured to said drive chain and another end connected to saidfirst carriage, whereby as said drive chain moves said first carriagereciprocates.

7. The fabric folding machine of claim 1 wherein said second carriagedrive means includes a continuous drive chain, a connecting link havingone end secured to said -drive chain and another end connected to saidsecond carriage, whereby as said drive chain moves said second carriagereciprocates.

8. The fabric folding machine of claim 1 wherein each of said carriagedrive means includes a continuous drive chain, a connecting link havingone end secured to said drive chain and another end'connected to arespective one of said carriages, whereby as said drive chain moves therespective carriage reciprocates.

9. The fabric folding machine of claim 1 wherein a main drive shaft iscarried by said frame for rotation only and said drive roller is carriedby a drive roller shaft, said drive means for said drive roller includesa flexing chain drive connecting said drive roller shaft to said maindrive shaft and driving the same from said main drive shaft, and saidfirst carriage drive means being secured to said drive roller shaft.

10. The fabric folding machine of claim 1 wherein a main drive shaft iscarried by said frame for rotation only and said drive roller is carriedby a drive roller shaft, said drive means for said drive roller includesa flexing chain drive connecting said drive roller shaft to said maindrive shaft and driving the same from said main drive shaft, said firstcarriage drive means including a continuous drive chain, a connectinglink having one end secured to said drive chain and another endconnected to said first carriage, whereby as said drive chain moves saidfirst carriage reciprocates.

11. The fabric folding machine of claim 10 wherein said connecting linkis secured to said drive roller shaft to form the connection betweensaid connecting link and saidfirst carriage.

References (Iited in the file of this patent

1. A FABRIC FOLDING MACHINE FOR FOLDING A CONTINUOUS STRIP OF FABRIC BACK AND FORTH AND PROGRESSIVELY FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN A CONTAINER, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING A FRAME, A FIRST CARRIAGE, COOPERATING MEANS ON SAID FRAME AND FIRST CARRIAGE MOUNTING SAID FIRST CARRIAGE FOR BACK AND FORTH MOVEMENT, A DRIVE ROLLER CARRIED BY SAID FIRST CARRIAGE FOR DRIVING A STRIP OF FABRIC, A SECOND CARRIAGE, COOPERATING MEANS ON SAID FIRST CARRIAGE AND SAID SECOND CARRIAGE MOUNTING SAID SECOND CARRIAGE FOR SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT, COMBINED FABRIC GUIDE AND CLAMPING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SECOND CARRIAGE FOR MOVEMENT ALONG SAID DRIVE ROLLER AND IN CLAMPING FABRIC DRIVING COOPERATION THEREWITH, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID FIRST CARRIAGE, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID SECOND CARRIAGE AS SAID FIRST CARRIAGE RECIPROCATES, 